The Irish government has launched a consultation process on the principles for the design of Phase Two offshore wind auctions under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS 2). The first auction, called ORESS 2.1, is scheduled to be launched by the end of 2023 or early 2024 and will offer a 900 MW area off Ireland's South coast. This capacity will be split into two connections of around 450 MW each at two locations.
The upcoming ORESS 2 auctions will be based on the available onshore grid capacity and will primarily target offshore wind projects located in the designated areas for Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) as part of the country's Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP). Recently, the government released the first proposal for the DMAP, outlining plans for offshore renewable energy development. Additionally, the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) has been established as the new permitting authority to oversee these projects.
Looking ahead, the Irish government has plans for a second Phase Two auction that will focus on DMAPs along Ireland's East coast. This auction is scheduled to take place later in 2024. Furthermore, the government is also preparing for Phase Three, which aims to develop an initial 2 GW of floating wind capacity in the South and West coastal areas by 2030. These projects may include initiatives for green hydrogen production and non-grid applications.
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